And when He commanded that, He emphasized it by prohibiting what opposes it; alluding to those concerning whom these verses were revealed; from the People of the Book; reproaching them for their misguidance; and their differences in their religion regarding their prophets. He said: ﴿And do not be like those who divided﴾; by what they innovated in the foundations of their religion; and by what they committed of sins; this led them - and it must be - to negligence; and reliance; and flattery, which they intended by it to seek peace; and it dragged them to enmity. And when division might only be in bodies; while agreeing in opinions; He clarified that the matter is not like that; and He said: ﴿And they differed﴾; by what the hatred produced for them, leading to the description of the state of one who thinks that they are all united while their hearts are diverse.

And when He condemned them for the difference which reason indicates is blameworthy; He increased its ugliness by stating that they opposed it - after the prohibition of reason - with clear transmission; and He said: "From"; meaning: their difference began from the time which is ﴿after the clear signs came to them﴾; and He magnified it by expressing it without femininity; ﴿the clear signs﴾; meaning: by what gathers them; and elevates them; and raises them; and necessitates their agreement; and benefits them; thus that separation led them to ruin; and destroyed them.

And when the estimation is: "So those have hastened to destruction in this world; they are the losers"; He added to it His saying: ﴿And those﴾; meaning: the distant and hated ones; ﴿for them is a great punishment﴾; meaning: in the Hereafter; after the punishment of this world; for their differences; opposing what is of the nature of gathering; and the verse is from the interweaving: the affirmation of "the successful ones"; first; indicates "the losers"; second; and the great punishment; second; indicates the eternal bliss; first.